Battle Plan Keeps Everyone In Touch

Paula Chambers of Hoffman Estates has a strategy for cheering up her relatives overseas in the Army that could probably rival any military maneuver for detailed planning.

Chambers` daughter, Kristen Jones, who is in the Army in Germany, was left alone there when her husband, Todd, was transferred to Saudi Arabia. Chambers came up with a plan-``Operation Direct Dial``-to make sure they both got plenty of cheerful calls and letters.

``I went through my Christmas card list and picked out 28 friends and relatives I thought would enjoy the project and whom Kristen and Todd would get a kick out of hearing from,`` she said.

She sent them each a form letter asking them to call Kristen in Germany and assigned each a certain time on a specific weekend. She asked them to then write to Todd to tell him about the call. Chambers included Kristen`s phone number, Todd`s military address and a self-addressed stamped envelope so friends and relatives can send her their phone bills for reimbursement.

``I had it planned so that Kristen would get two calls a weekend for 14 weeks and, so far in five weeks, she`s gotten nine calls,`` Paula said.

Best of all, Chambers said, her daughter hasn`t figured out that her mother started the calling campaign and has been surprised and delighted by the deluge of calls.

More active parents

They call themselves the Mothers and Friends of Barrington Service People, and they`re determined to make their village as red, white, blue-and yellow-as they can.

Sandy Belyea is the mother and Barb Colagrossi is the friend, and their impromptu group made the gazebo in downtown Barrington its first project. With the help of local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts, they decorated the gazebo with patriotic ribbons and bunting last weekend.

Now they`re trying for a more permanent sign of support for the troops.

They`ve raised most of the $2,300 needed to buy flaglike banners to fly from the lampposts downtown, according to Belyea. The posts now sport green Barrington banners.

``We want to see the banners fly until all the service people come home,`` said Belyea, whose son, Paul Stratton, is a staff sergeant with the Illinois Air National Guard out of O`Hare now serving in Saudi Arabia.

``We figure the village can save them for national holidays too,`` she said.

The group has raised most of its funds through the sale of yellow ribbons and bows. They claim to have a top-secret source for the yellow trim, which is quickly becoming a scarce commodity.

``We`re also trying to get permission for the Barrington police to tie yellow ribbons to the antennae of their patrol cars,`` Belyea said.

Second chance

If you feel un-American because you missed last weekend`s march supporting the troops in Hoffman Estates, you`ve got another chance Sunday in Mt. Prospect.

Resident Lois Nogaj has spearheaded the indoor rally, which will start at 3 p.m. at the Prospect High School Field House, 801 Kensington Rd.

``We don`t want to be the silent majority any longer,`` said Nogaj, who has cut up 3,000 yards of yellow ribbon to give away in 2-foot lengths.

The village also will give away 1,100 12-by-18-inch American flags and 2,000 Desert Storm support posters.

A number of local politicians have been invited to come and wax patriotic, including state Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights), U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill.), Cook County Commissioner Carl Hansen (R-Mt. Prospect) and Mt. Prospect Mayor Gerald Farley.

However, the day won`t be taken up entirely by speechmaking. Mt. Prospect Village Clerk Carol Fields described the rally as more of a patriotic ``sing- along,`` with the Prospect High band providing patriotic music.

``The whole idea is just for people to get together and hoot and holler and yell their support for the troops,`` Fields said.

On hold

The 8th grade at Riley School in Marengo may soon have even one more reason to hate the Persian Gulf war. Principal Ray Asplund said school officials are considering canceling the traditional graduation trip to the nation`s capital if the war drags on.

``Other schools in the area have been told by tour agents that many of the tourist attractions are shut down for security reasons,`` Asplund said. He added that students haven`t raised all the money they need for the trip, though they probably will reach their goal of $4,000 soon. He said officials will wait a few more weeks and try to gather more information before making a final decision.